Yankees manager Aaron Boone gave updates on a number of injured players as they start a three-game series with the Guardians on Tuesday…
Dominguez’s rehab start, tentatively, set
With the injury to Aaron Judge, the Yankees could be in need of an outfield bat to replace their captain in the short term. Jasson Dominguez would be an ideal candidate if he could return from his IL stint and Boone offered a promising update on the young outfielder.
Boone said that Dominguez will take live batting practice and will begin a rehab assignment on Friday.
The 23-year-old outfielder was starting to turn things around since his call-up in late April. He was 6-for-30 in his nine games, but had five hits, including a home run, in his last seven games before landing on the IL with a shoulder sprain after running into the wall making a catch in the outfield.
Stanton update
Boone was asked about Giancarlo Stanton‘s status and it was more of the same from a week ago, when imaging showed that his calf strain was healing. Stanton will also be hitting in a live BP and continue his running ramp-up.
When asked if Stanton will need a rehab assignment, the Yankees skipper didn’t have a definitive answer, but it was the least of his concerns.
“That’s not a big question for me….not necessarily, but I won’t rule it out either,” Boone said. “We’ll decide that at the end. He’s different than every other player in that he doesn’t have to build up innings or things like that. It’s possible, but not a certainty either.”
Boone said that he was hopeful Stanton would return soon since the slugger has been running the last few days, but conceded it could be a couple of more weeks before we see Stanton.
Stanton was slashing .256/.302/.422 with an OPS of .724. He also has three home runs and driven in 14 RBI in his 24 games.
Fried latest
Southpaw Max Fried was the final injury update that Boone provided and the skipper gave a short, but optimistic breakdown of what Fried has been going through since he landed on the IL with a bone bruise on his elbow.
“Threw again at 75 feet back-to-back days with some better intensity,” Boone said. “Seems to be responding to everything very well. Just talking to him, he’s excited how he felt since even a couple of days after the outing in Baltimore. He’s been doing well.
Meeting with the doctor today to see about whether we start ramping him up more. But seems to be responding pretty well.”
Fried was pitching to a 3.21 ERA across his 10 starts before going down with injury. If the Yankees can get Fried back healthy, he’ll slide into a rotation that has just welcomed back Gerrit Cole.